Psycho Response Essay

                Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho has been widely regarded as one of the most well-known horror films of time, as made obvious by the fact that, despite it having been originally released in 1960, it is still talked about and studied by everyone from film critics to frequent film-watchers. Not only has it stood the test of time, but it has also spawned everything from sequels and prequels to spinoffs and remakes. After having watched the film, it’s easy to see why. Many scenes from the movie were, not surprisingly, considered too racy, violent, or otherwise inappropriate for the time period—the opening scene, for example, portrayed an unmarried couple sharing a bed together, and the infamous “shower scene” revealed much of the actress’ body along with an excessive portrayal of violence and gore. I was shocked by how modern the movie felt—while the setting and characters made the movie’s setting obvious, I couldn’t help but feel that the film was ahead of its time and very ground breaking. The plot was filled with surprises, and I found the shocking reveal of Norman Bates being the killer to be one of the most satisfying, dynamic, and fitting climaxes of any film I’ve seen.

                One of the most notable uses of montage in the film is during the iconic shower scene, during which Norman Bates (as his deranged and jealous mother) repeatedly stabs Marion to death while violins screech in the background. The scene rhythmically interchanges clips of Norman sneaking up on Marion and Marion showering, with the montage (aptly named “Rhythmic Montage”) reaching its climax at the moment when the two different actions meet—when Norman pulls back the shower curtain and plunges the knife into a screaming Marion.